BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday ordered the armed forces to strengthen training under real combat conditions and raise their capability of winning wars as the ruling Communist Party laid out plans to make the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) on par with the US military by 2027.
After stressing recently that the PLA must apply cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence if it wants to transform itself into a modern fighting force on a par with those of other leading powers, Xi said the military must focus on training to win wars.
Xi, 67, who besides heading the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Presidency with prospects of life long tenure in power, is also the Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) which is the overall high command for the country’s two million-strong military.
Speaking at the CMC meeting, Xi stressed the implementation of the party’s thinking on strengthening the military, as well as the military strategy, for the new era, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
He called for the faster establishment of a new-type military training system and strong support for achieving the party’s goal of building stronger armed forces for the new era and developing the armed forces into a world-class military.
His comments came in the backdrop of the India-China border standoff at eastern Ladakh for over six months.
The Chinese military is also flexing its muscles over Taiwan and the disputed South China Sea. —Agencies

KR Desk